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the MAMA of ella

email me!if you'd like to ask me a question or pass along an idea, please email rowena@ella-echo.com. i'm always thrilled to hear from readers, and i read every single message--but not always right away. a few days may pass before you hear back from me. it's not personal, i promise. :)

December 05, 2011

we made our traditional envelope pocket advent calendar, which was way more fun this year and also way more involved because now ella can cut and paste very well, she can read very well, she is well versed in the symbols of christmas, and she has developed a sense of design that is all her own. thus, the making of the advent pockets was a complex undertaking, but she loves it, we had a fantastic time (we did it while watching "scrooged"), and most importantly, it serves its purpose.

this year, the goblins are having us learn christmas carols and songs, and they are giving us longer bible passages to reflect on. but the activities they are having us do are simpler. the goblins' main goal is to see to it that unlike last year, mama is not scrambling every day to come up with materials and mama really appreciates that. ;) thus, the goblins have instituted the following craft/activity policies: one project each week has to be something to give. one project each week can make a huge mess. one project a week is something we'd already do anyway. all projects must use items that are already in the house or yard.

i'd like to take this opportunity right now to thank heaven above for the creation of pinterest, which has made advent calendar sanity possible this year.

WEEK 1 REVIEW

christmas carols: oh little town of bethlehem, away in a manger, o come all ye faithful, we wish you a merry christmas

activity/craft: make paper chain with names of people to pray for on each link; paint a jar to use as a star of bethlehem lantern; string popcorn and pieces of fruit to hang outside for the birds; make gourmet hot cocoa mix

each day includes a prayer written specifically for our family.

WEEK 2 PREVIEW

christmas carols: white christmas, do you hear what i hear, the first noel, angels we have heard on high, the little drummer boy, winter wonderland, over the river and thru the woods

activity/craft: draw on the windows with a sliver of soap; make caramels; make peppermint playdough; make and deliver a batch of cookies for the neighbors; make ribbon candy ornaments out of found paper; decorate and put up outdoor wreaths; make handprint craft

each day includes a prayer written specifically for our family.

the stuff on top of the mantel is an advent gift from me to ella, they are 24 individually-wrapped christmas books. she gets to choose one book each day and i will read it as many times as she asks, as often as she asks, all day long. half of them are books that she already owned, and the rest are books that i "bought" using credits i saved from trading old books at mckay used book store this past year. so far all the books she's opened are ones from her own library LOL but she doesn't mind, she is happy to have free license to snuggle any time she asks. i’ll make a separate page with a list of the books and post it later this week.

HIATUS

I'M NOT HERE!

i am on indefinite hiatus from all my blogs. i will not be adding any original content for the foreseeable future. please feel free to surf around the blog--there are years worth of material here, much of which has been buried in the mists of time--but do not expect responses to emails or comments because i'm not here. :) thank you for your understanding.